Ha Noi, 5 July 2017 – The Minister of Planning and Investment, H.E. Nguyen Chi Dzung, as assigned by the Prime Minister of the Government of Viet Nam, and the United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator in Viet Nam, H.E. Kamal Malhotra, on behalf of the United Nations, signed the new Government of Viet Nam – United Nations Joint One Strategic Plan (OSP) for period 2017 – 2021 between the Government of Viet Nam and 18 UN Agencies: FAO, ILO, IOM, ITC, IAEA, UNAIDS, UNCTAD, UNDP, UNEP, UNESCO, UNFPA, UN-Habitat, UNICEF, UNIDO, UNODC, UNV, UN Women and WHO.

The signing of the OSP 2017-2021, the new key programmatic and strategic framework for delivering UN support to the Government, coincides with the 40-year commemoration of the UN – Viet Nam partnership. It highlights the strong commitment of the UN and the Government of Viet Nam to the National Action Plan for implementation of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development (SDGs).

The OSP 2017-2021 is built on the three principles of inclusion, equity and sustainability, and is well aligned with Viet Nam's Socio-Economic Development Strategy 2011-2020, its Socio-Economic Development Plan 2016-2020, the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as Viet Nam's international human rights commitments.

With an estimated budget of US$ 423 million, the OSP 2017-2021 prioritizes four focus areas, shaped by the central themes of the SDGs (People, Planet, Prosperity and Peace), emphasizing nine related outcomes.

The OSP 2017-2021 advances common ground for the expansion of partnerships between the UN, the Government, private sector actors, development partners and legally established non-state organizations and groups. While recognizing Viet Nam's significant economic growth and remarkable poverty reduction, Minister of Planning and Investment, H.E. Nguyen Chi Dzung, stated that "The OSP is signed and implemented when Viet Nam starts to implement the National Action Plan for implementation of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. Viet Nam will apply synchronous measures for curbing the inflation, stabilizing the macro economy and ensuring the social security. At the same time, the government will implement drastic and effective solutions to restructure the economy in a comprehensive and inclusive manner. The Government has been doing its best to improve the institutional and policy framework in order to mobilize the resources from all economic sectors for the country's growth. Together with other development partners, the United Nations has played an important role to support Viet Nam's development, integration and active participation in the global development context, through the provision of policy advice and technical support to the Government of Viet Nam, sharing Viet Nam's experiences with other developing countries, and the introduction of professional experiences that help ensure a sustainable and green growth economy with a balance between the social and economic development".

Speaking at the signing ceremony, UN Resident Coordinator in Viet Nam, H.E. Kamal Malhotra, affirmed that "Through the new OSP 2017-2021, the UN will continue to build on its comparative advantages in providing Viet Nam with integrated solutions to complex multidimensional development challenges by drawing on collective regional and global knowledge; supporting a normative voice on human rights, prioritizing equity and citizen-centered reforms; and strengthening South-South cooperation."

The signing ceremony took place at the Ministry of Planning and Investment with the attendance of a wide audience of stakeholders including representatives from Ministries and Agencies, the UN, development partners, other organizations and the media.

The global 'Delivering as One' reform initiative was launched in 2006 when the governments of eight countries – Albania, Cape Verde, Mozambique, Pakistan, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uruguay, and Viet Nam – volunteered to become Delivering as One pilot countries. The eight countries agreed to capitalize on the strengths and comparative advantages of the different members of the UN family and look at ways to increase the UN system's impact.

In Viet Nam, the initiative brings together the expertise, experience and capacities of all UN agencies in the country to provide more coordinated and effective assistance. The six pillars of reform in Viet Nam include One Plan, One Budget, One Leader, One Set of Management Practices, One Voice and the Green One UN House.

Ha Noi, October 17/10/2017 - Aiming at improving the living environment and bringing culture and art to the community towards a better urban future, United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) successfully developed the project “Promote participatory, community-based and youth-led approach in safe, greening public spaces in Hoan Kiem district toward a pro-poor, inclusive and sustainable urban development” (hereinafter called Public Spaces project) under the Block by Block program with Mojang, the makers of the videogame Minecraft.

Deadline for round 1:From 17/10/2017 to 04/11/2017Extended to 9 November 2017

The age at which a child, can be held criminally liable is a controversial issue around the world. Within Viet Nam, this issue is currently being grappled with in the Penal Code amendments. Some argue that a "get tough on crime" approach is necessary to punish children to prevent further criminality.

However, international research shows that because of their developmental stages, labelling and treating children as criminals at an early age can have serious negative impacts on their development and successful rehabilitation.

On the occasion of New Year 2017, on behalf of the United Nations family in Viet Nam I wish to reiterate our appreciation and express our warmest wishes to our partners and friends throughout the country. We wish our partners and their families in Viet Nam peace, prosperity, good health and happiness in the coming year.

As we enter the second year of the Sustainable Development Goals era, we look forward to continuing our close cooperation for the sake of Viet Nam’s future development; one which is inclusive, equitable and sustainable, with no one left behind.

Thirty-five years since the emergence of AIDS, the international community can look back with some pride. But we must also look ahead with resolve and commitment to reach our goal of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

There has been real progress in tackling the disease. More people than ever are on treatment. Since 2010, the number of children infected through mother to child transmission has dropped by half. Fewer people die of AIDS related causes each year. And people living with HIV are living longer lives.

The number of people with access to life-saving medicines has doubled over the past five years, now topping 18 million. With the right investments, the world can get on the fast-track to achieve our target of 30 million people on treatment by 2030. Access to HIV medicines to prevent mother to child transmission is now available to more than 75 per cent of those in need.